Raikkonen, Alonso explain start collision

Both Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso were able to walk away from a scary-looking collision at the start of the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Raikkonen slewed left as he accelerated out of Turn 2 and collected Alonso, with the Spaniard careering into the barriers before riding up on top of the front of Raikkonen's car, where he came to a halt.

"I got some wheel spin and then it just went left, it was a bit of an unusual place as it was a bit higher speed," he said.

"The end result is what it is, a really poor weekend, but that's how it goes."

Alonso, who retired for a fourth straight race, believes that both drivers were fortunate not to be injured in the collision.

"I started very good today, made a lot of places at Turn 1 and Turn 2," said Alonso, who rose from 19th to 14th.

"Kimi was with the Prime time, so he was exiting Turn 2 with a lot of wheel spin, so the car was moving and we were all overtaking him left and right.

"At one point he lost the car to the left, and I was on the left, so we went both on the wall, and I was lucky to not hit him on the head. Looking at the replays I was braking but my wheels were in the air, so I was close with him, but luckily we are both fine."